Amazon Game Studios is ceasing its role as publisher for the massively multiplayer online games Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty in the coming months, marking another significant step in the company's retreat from its gaming ambitions. This shift impacts ongoing support and publishing duties for both titles.
Support for Throne and Liberty will conclude in the fourth quarter of 2026. Following this, publishing responsibilities will return to FirstSpark Games and NC (formerly NCSoft). Players will reportedly retain access to their existing characters and accounts on PC and consoles, with an option to opt out of data transfer to NC. Lost Ark is scheduled to follow in early 2027, with developer Smilegate taking over Western publishing. Upon this transition, Lost Ark players will maintain progression, account status, and various in-game identifiers, though certain communication and social features like messages, friends lists, and guilds will be inaccessible. Similar to Throne and Liberty, players will have the choice to opt out of data transfer to Smilegate.
Amazon Game Studios initially positioned itself as a major force in MMO publishing in the early 2020s, launching its own title New World and bringing popular Asian MMOs to Western markets. However, the company began a divestment from its gaming operations in October of the previous year. This has led to the end-of-service for New World, the closure of King of Meat, the withdrawal from publishing Maverick Games' Clutch and MOBA March of Giants, and developer layoffs.
Currently, Amazon Game Studios' committed publishing projects include Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and party games for its Luna cloud gaming service. Amazon gaming GM Jeff Gattis has also indicated interest in publishing future James Bond titles. Lost Ark is available on Windows PC, while Throne and Liberty can be played on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.